A welcome move for many.

The Government has today approved a pay agreement which will provide pay increases for childcare workers and early learning educators. A new minimum hourly rate of €13-an-hour for early years educators will now apply, and €17.25-an-hour for graduate managers. The move will see wages increase for an estimated 73% of workers in the sector. Speaking today, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English said: "I am very pleased to approve these Employment Regulation Orders which will commence on 15 September. "The proposals submitted to me will apply to some 27,000 staff and are a welcome acknowledgement of the importance of the work carried out by everyone working in the early learning and childcare sector." Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman announced The Core Funding Scheme as part of Budget 2022. The Employment Regulation Orders are being supported by €221m scheme which came with a commitment to freeze fees for parents and care givers. Minister O'Gorman said, "I have always said that I believe early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners need their pay and conditions to reflect the importance of the work they do. Today's announcement is an historic first step towards that." Speaking on behalf of SIPTU, Darragh O'Connor said: "Low pay has caused a staffing crisis in early years as services struggle to recruit and retain staff. This pay deal, and future pay increases, mean that early years professionals can plan to stay in their chosen profession in the long term."